The following image was taken from the sliding door of our stateroom. Certainly not the most scenic view of the trip. The approach was much nicer.
As always, the images and any videos in this posting are best viewed on the web page. View the complete set of blog posts here.
Viking Tour Description: “Scenic Island of Mahé. Discover Mahé’s striking natural beauty during a scenic excursion across the island’s north end. The largest island in the Seychelles, Mahé, is a renowned tropical paradise. Your panoramic drive will take you through lush vegetation, past charming villages, and white-sand beaches. Admire the views of the dramatic granite peaks that dot the island en route to the Seychelles National Botanical Garden. Here, stroll the grounds, keeping watch for giant Aldabra land tortoises, fruit bats, and more than 200 species of endemic flora. Return to Victoria, stopping for refreshments at an elegant hotel. Then, set off on a brief guided walk around the town’s center, passing local landmarks, including many colonial-era buildings, the old courthouse, and a replica of London’s Little Ben.“
We spent our morning touring the capital city, Victoria, and the coastal areas of North Mahe, crossing over the granite mountains in the center of the island (Morne Seychellious National Park). Leaving the port, we saw the four fish unity statue, called the Unity Monument (1987), symbolizing the four pillars of the Seychelles economy – agriculture, fishing, tourism, and small business (see the image above). We drove into the city centre, stopped to take some photos, learned more about its history, and walked to the local market. The French were the first Europeans to control Seychelles; the islands were later taken over by the British. Several French and Victorian-era buildings remain in use today, such as the lovely former Supreme Court building repurposed as the National Museum. An interesting side effect of the French influence was that, for the first time in a long time, we noticed vehicles driving on the right-hand side of the road.
Victoria is rightfully proud of their Little Ben Tower.
We toured the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market. Unfortunately, the official market was closed and under renovation, but the market street and nearby shops were buzzing. We walked around for a bit to get a sense of the place, stopping at a nearby Hindu temple. A temporary market was set up a few blocks away, so we were able to experience the essence of the marketplace – a significant variety of different fruits and vegetables (breadfruit, anyone?) and amazing flowers and floral displays. The beautiful arrangement below, featuring many Birds of Paradise plants, was $25. Spices and vanilla are grown on the island and are readily available. The third image is a video.
We then toured the Seychelles National Botanical Gardens. Coco de Mer Palm Trees are native to Seychelles, and we have heard a lot about this species of late. They are a type of palm tree that produces gigantic, double coconuts which can weigh up to 45 kg. It takes 30-35 years before a Coco de Mer fruit is mature (the next image, taken from the internet). Due to its size and shape, this plant has captivated human folklore for centuries due to its unique features and mythical allure as a symbol of fertility. Coco de Mer is the largest seed plant in the plant kingdom (remember, Laura taught us that it is not a nut) and is an example of “gigantism”, which happens when species evolve over time to become larger because their environment enables it (nutrients readily available and few natural adverse conditions). Due to overexploitation and habitat destruction, the Coco de Mer has been listed as an endangered species. The photos of trees below depict younger trees and fruits that are not as mature as the Coco de Mer from the first photo.
We have seen many breadfruit trees in several different countries on the trip. Breadfruit is a staple in tropical diets all over the world. We didn’t try it, but evidently, you can slice and fry it or cook it like mashed potatoes. It is very nutritious and easy to grow. The dense branches and broad glossy leaves are attractive. The fruit’s outer skin has bumps and is quite large – bigger than a grapefruit. Western explorers named it “breadfruit” because when it is baked, it has the aroma of baked bread. Now you know.
Random plants found during our walkabout at the Garden.
Lily Ponds – The third image is a video of a small turtle living in the pond.
The garden includes an Aldabra Giant Tortoise habitat, which is home to many (20?) of these large, fascinating creatures. Aldabra Tortoises are endemic to the Seychelles, although they nearly went extinct in the 1800s due to overhunting by Europeans as a food source. These tortoises can live to be up to 250 years old and weigh up to 800 pounds, although the ones here were not that large or old. Aldabra Tortoises are another example of gigantism in nature (where a species in isolation becomes significantly larger than its ancestor). We arrived right at feeding time, which we both took advantage of. The animals knew exactly what was happening when the keepers brought out piles of branches and leaves for the visitors to feed to them. The tortoises immediately started walking towards us to get the food. They were unafraid of humans and would eat out of our hands and seemed to beg for more. These tortoises like to be petted under their neck. We can attest that procreation is not a problem for this creep (herd). Aldabra tortoises are native to Seychelles’ Aldabra Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The following three images are videos. In the first, Cheryl is feeding one of the tortoises. In the second, I am doing the same. In the third, two of them compete for food from a third. Interacting with them so closely was a pretty fun experience. Their eyes are expressive, and they made eye contact with us.
We spent a few hours touring the island, passing by several quaint small towns and many tourist resorts. The island is beautiful and lush with a wide variety of tropical vegetation. Cinnamon trees are rogue here – considered invasive. We stopped at the Berjaya Resort to enjoy the facilities and swim in the ocean if desired. Cheryl desired. I sat in the shade, enjoyed a Coke Zero, and watched over our stuff.
Interesting flora observed while touring (not from the Botanical Garden).
The downtown area had fan (traveller’s or East-West) palm trees. While they are indigenous to Madagascar, we have seen them on some of the islands we have visited. This was the first time I was able to photograph them up close.
Miscellaneous – Here are some additional photos from the day. We drove by many of the island’s beautiful beaches with turquoise waters. The retaining and building walls in the following images are made from granite rock. This is something we have not seen for quite some time. The island is continental, which means that at some point it separated from the African continent, and therefore granite is everywhere (unlike the volcanically formed islands we have visited). Like all over the world, local builders use what is available and cheap.
End of post.